Child Poverty

Child poverty is one of the most urgent challenges facing Wales today. With 28% of children living in poverty, Wales continues to have one of the highest child poverty rates in the UK. This affects children’s health, education, and future opportunities, limiting potential before life has even begun.

But behind the national figures lies a stark local reality: Swansea is among the hardest-hit areas, with over 13,000 children growing up in poverty. In some communities, around one in three children are affected.

 

🌍 The Situation in Swansea

Areas such as Townhill, Penderry, and Castle are seeing the highest levels of deprivation. Schools and local organisations report:

  • Increased use of food banks

  • More families relying on emergency support

  • Rising concerns about children arriving hungry or without essential items

Child poverty isn’t just about low income, it’s about the everyday struggles families face: unstable work, rising living costs, expensive housing, and limited access to affordable childcare.

 

🔍 What’s Driving Child Poverty?

  • Low household income from insecure or low-paid work

  • Rising living costs, especially housing, food and energy

  • Barriers to employment, including unaffordable childcare

  • Educational inequalities linked to financial stress

  • Difficulty accessing services, with support often fragmented

 

✅ What Needs to Happen? (Key Actions)

Here are the most impactful steps the Welsh Government and Swansea Council can take:

1️⃣ Boost Family Incomes

  • Push for UK-level welfare reforms (e.g., ending the two-child limit)

  • Expand Welsh financial support with easier, automatic access

2️⃣ Make School Truly Affordable

  • Provide universal free school meals and breakfasts

  • Reduce hidden school costs (uniforms, trips, materials)

3️⃣ Improve Childcare and Early Years Support

  • Increase funding for early years programmes

  • Expand affordable childcare to help parents work

4️⃣ Tackle Housing Costs

  • Build more social housing

  • Increase support for families at risk of homelessness

5️⃣ Strengthen Support in Swansea

  • Create a coordinated local child poverty hub

  • Improve data sharing so help reaches families faster

6️⃣ Ensure Services Are Easy to Access

  • Simplify applications

  • Train frontline staff in poverty awareness and dignity-focused support

7️⃣ Set Clear Goals

  • Publicly commit to measurable child poverty reduction targets

  • Report progress every year

 

💬 Why It Matters

Child poverty is not inevitable. It’s shaped by policy decisions—and it can be reversed by bold, coordinated action. Every child in Wales deserves the chance to grow, learn, and thrive. Tackling child poverty in Swansea is essential to making that vision real.